The Dawnstead Adventurer's Guild was alive with noise—the clatter of wooden mugs, the hum of conversation, the occasional burst of laughter. Long wooden tables stretched across the hall, occupied by adventurers of all ranks. Some were swapping stories about recent quests, others haggling over loot. The scent of ale, roasted meat, and faint traces of sweat and leather filled the air, mingling with the warmth of the lantern-lit hall.
At the center of the room stood the quest board, a towering structure covered with neatly pinned parchments—requests ranging from simple gathering jobs to high-risk beast subjugations. Adventurers wandered up in groups, scanning the board for work, murmuring about which quests seemed worth the effort.
Then—a sharp, deliberate clap cut through the noise.
"Listen up, everyone!"
A familiar voice—Alina, the guild receptionist—rang out across the room, clear and commanding.
The casual chatter died down, and all eyes turned toward the front of the hall.
Standing beside Alina was Garrick Voss, the guildmaster himself.
A hush fell over the crowd.
It was rare for Garrick to make an appearance like this. When he did, it meant something serious.
A few adventurers exchanged quiet words:
"What's going on?"
"Something big, if the guildmaster's stepping in."
"Did another dungeon appear nearby?"
Alina stepped forward, unrolling a parchment and pinning it to the quest board with a sharp tap.
Her violet eyes scanned the room. Then she spoke.
"We've received an urgent subjugation request from the Dawnstead Knights."
A few murmurs already stirred, but her next words froze the air.
"A large horde of monsters has been sighted gathering outside town, affected by a phenomenon called mana overload."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.
One of the younger adventurers, barely past his F-Rank trials, hesitantly raised a hand. "Wait, so… it's like a stampede?"
Garrick spoke this time, his voice low and firm.
"Not exactly. These monsters aren't running blindly. They're gathering. Unnaturally."
The words sent a chill through the hall.
Boris, the grizzled quest coordinator, crossed his arms. "That means two things: One, they won't stop until the mana settles. Two, their numbers are already beyond what the knights can handle."
The murmurs grew louder. Some adventurers perked up with interest, while others frowned.
At one of the tables, Gareth, a seasoned D-Rank adventurer, leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. Then, with a smirk, he asked the most practical question:
"So… what's the pay?"
A few chuckles followed.
It was a typical adventurer reaction—no matter how dangerous the job, the reward always came first.
Alina held up the prepared parchment. "Due to the scale of this subjugation, rewards will be adjusted based on performance. A base reward will be granted for participation, with bonuses for confirmed kills. The town is also offering additional pay for eliminating high-threat targets."
Gareth's smirk widened. "Now that's more like it."
However, not everyone looked convinced.
A rogue-type adventurer, Mira, adjusted the hood of her leather cloak, her sharp gaze scanning the room. "Hold on." Her voice carried an edge of caution. "We're mostly D-Ranks in town right now. If this was bad enough for the knights to ask for help… doesn't that mean it's more than we can handle?"
A pause.
She had said what many were thinking.
Garrick met her gaze. Then, with deliberate weight, he spoke.
"Which is why this is a group operation. No one goes out alone. You'll be working in teams under strict formation guidelines. If you're reckless, you're dead."
The bluntness of his words sent a heavy silence through the hall.
Alina finished pinning up the parchment. "This is a mandatory squad-based subjugation. Solo adventurers will not be accepted. Those who wish to participate must register before nightfall. The operation will begin at dawn."
The room remained quiet for a moment, the weight of the mission settling in.
Then—a low chuckle.
"Heh. Sounds like fun."
Gareth stood up, cracking his knuckles. "I'm in."
Mira sighed, rubbing her temple. "Guess I don't have a choice if it's mandatory…"
Slowly, more adventurers nodded, some reluctantly, others with excitement. The nervous energy in the room shifted—some drawn by the danger, others by the reward.
Garrick took one final glance at the crowd.
They were eager now. But how many of them truly understood what they were walking into?
With that thought, he turned away.
The Dawnstead Adventurer's Guild was no longer the lively, chaotic hall it had been earlier that day. After the subjugation quest announcement, the energy in the room had shifted.
The laughter and boasts that once filled the space had dwindled. Conversations had grown hushed, spoken in low murmurs as adventurers gathered in groups, whispering about the mission.
For some, the news of a horde approaching was an opportunity—a way to earn big rewards and gain recognition.
For others, it was a wake-up call.
Some adventurers fidgeted, hands gripping the hilts of their weapons, realizing that this was no ordinary quest. Dawnstead was at risk.
And if the adventurers failed—well, the consequences didn't need to be spoken aloud.
At the registration counter, Alina and Boris worked swiftly, reviewing applicants while also overseeing the formation of teams.
The challenge wasn't just gathering enough numbers—it was ensuring the right balance of skill sets in each team.
Several parchment lists were spread out before them, sorted by rank, specialization, and known combat ability.
Boris, standing behind the counter, rubbed his rough beard and let out a sigh.
"Mostly D-Ranks and F-Ranks, huh?" He glanced at Alina. "Not exactly an ideal force for stopping a monster horde."
Alina didn't look up, scanning the lists with sharp focus. "It's what we have," she replied. "We structure the teams properly, and we'll make it work."
She tapped her quill against the table. "Each squad needs a frontline fighter, a support or ranged combatant, and a mix of offense and mobility."
Boris rolled his shoulders with a grunt. "That means we're forcing some of them to work together, whether they like it or not."
Alina's lips tightened. "It can't be helped. This isn't a simple gathering quest. If they refuse to cooperate, they're not going."
Garrick Voss, the guildmaster, who had been listening from the side, finally spoke.
His deep, gravelly voice cut through the tension. "If they don't like it, they can walk out the damn door. No room for egos in a subjugation mission."
A few adventurers standing nearby exchanged glances, realizing there would be no special treatment.
Alina, her expression unreadable, turned back to the crowd, watching as adventurers struggled to form squads.
Across the guild hall, adventurers moved in small clusters, whispering to each other, scanning the room for potential teammates.
Some groups formed easily, adventurers teaming up with trusted allies—those they had fought alongside before.
But others… Others weren't so lucky.
At one table, a heavily armored warrior, Reiner, crossed his arms as he glared at a hooded rogue across from him.
"Tch. I don't trust thieves."
The rogue, Mira, didn't even look up. She casually flipped a dagger between her fingers, her violet eyes glinting with amusement.
"Good," she replied smoothly. "I don't trust brainless tanks either."
Boris, watching the exchange from the counter, rubbed his temples. "You two are both D-Rank and your skill sets complement each other. Get over it."
Reiner grumbled under his breath, but didn't object further.
At another table, a nervous-looking mage, barely past his F-Rank trials, hesitated as he approached a group of adventurers.
"U-Um… do you have space for one more…?"
A tall, spear-wielding adventurer, Bennett, leaned back in his chair and eyed the mage critically. "You any good?"
The mage swallowed hard. "I—I can use basic fire spells and have a low-tier barrier spell…"
Bennett exchanged glances with his team before shrugging. "Fine. Stick behind us, and don't get yourself killed."
The mage nodded quickly, though his face remained pale.
Nearby, another group was forming with a more cooperative dynamic. A calm-looking magic user, a shield-bearing warrior, and a dexterous twin-dagger wielder exchanged nods.
"We've worked together before. Let's handle the northern sector," the magic user said.
A few F-Rank adventurers nervously approached the counter. One of them, a younger boy barely past his initiation trials, hesitated. "Do… do we really have to join?"
Boris gave him a long, hard stare before grunting. "If you can't handle it, don't sign up. No shame in knowing your limits."
The boy gulped and stepped back, realizing he was far from ready.
After what felt like an eternity, the groups began to settle.
Some adventurers still grumbled about their squads. Others exchanged wary glances, sizing up their newfound teammates.
It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do.
Then—Garrick walked to the center of the hall and slammed his fist on a table, immediately drawing attention.
"Listen up! Final squad assignments are posted on the board. If you're not on the list, you're not going. If you try to act outside formation, you're done. If you get reckless and put others in danger, I'll personally make sure you're banned from the guild."
The entire hall fell silent at his words.
Alina's voice cutting through the room like a blade.
"Listen up!"
Alina's expression was serious, unreadable as she held up a newly received report. "The Dawnstead Knights have confirmed that the monster horde is increasing in size. As of now, we estimate over two hundred creatures gathering outside the northern sector."
A wave of unease rippled through the adventurers.
"Two hundred?" someone muttered.
"That's…" another trailed off.
For a moment, the room was completely silent.
Garrick stepped forward, his towering presence enough to keep the adventurers from spiraling into panic.
"This is not a mindless stampede," he said, his voice firm. "Something is drawing these monsters together. If we don't act now, we're looking at a full-scale attack on Dawnstead before tomorrow's nightfall."
Boris crossed his arms, his tone gruff. "This means we're facing waves of monsters, not just a single encounter. If you lose focus out there, you're dead."
A few adventurers swallowed hard.
Others gritted their teeth, steeling themselves.
Alina's gaze swept across the room, her voice calm yet commanding.
"You have until nightfall to finalize your squads."
Her eyes narrowed.
"We leave at dawn."
The finality of her words settled over the room like a heavy storm.
And then—the guild erupted back into motion.
Some adventurers hurried to finalize their teams, whispering about strategy and positioning. Others checked their weapons, ensuring they were battle-ready.
But beneath all of it, there was an undeniable shift.
This wasn't just a job anymore. It was a battle for survival.
Alina quietly observed them, noting their reactions. "Let's hope they don't get themselves killed out there."
The moon hung high in the sky as Belle and Kai made their way back into town, the day spent training just outside the city walls. Belle had been pushing herself, refining her combat techniques while keeping her draconic abilities in check.
Kai, as usual, had been reckless.
"Next time, try not to nearly set my hair on fire," Belle muttered, brushing off the lingering scent of smoke from her sleeve.
Kai snorted. "No promises."
As they reached the adventurer's guild, they expected the usual—rowdy adventurers, idle chatter, the clinking of mugs and armor.
Instead, they walked straight into pandemonium.
The moment they stepped through the doors, a wall of noise hit them.
Raised voices overlapped chaotically as adventurers crowded around the quest board, some arguing, others exchanging uneasy whispers.
A man slammed his fist against a table, causing nearby drinks to rattle. "You expect us to handle a horde that size with this many low-rank adventurers? That's suicide!"
Another adventurer, leaning heavily against the counter, muttered to his companions. "The knights better be paying extra for this one…"
At the far side of the hall, several squads were forming, some groups working efficiently, while others struggled with clashing personalities.
And behind the counter, Alina was frantically scribbling notes, barely sparing a glance at the chaos around her.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Well, this is new."
Belle folded her arms, her silver eyes scanning the room. "Something big happened."
Instead of asking outright, Belle focused on the murmurs around her, trying to catch details.
"…a damn horde…"
"…monsters gathering unnaturally…"
"…the knights need all hands on deck…"
Kai, however, had a more direct approach.
He leaned against the counter, tilting his head at Alina. "So, what's got everyone acting like a bunch of headless chickens?"
Alina didn't even look up. "Urgent subjugation request from the knights."
She continued scrawling across parchment, barely pausing as she spoke. "The monsters in the area are acting erratic—more aggressive, larger in number, and overwhelming the usual patrol squads."
Belle frowned slightly. "Erratic how?"
That question made Alina pause for the first time.
She sighed, rubbing her temple before answering, her voice lower now.
"Not miasma-related, if that's what you're thinking," she said. "The knights suspect a mana overload, but…"
She hesitated.
"But what?" Belle pressed.
Alina's brows furrowed. "The monsters aren't just agitated. They're gathering unnaturally—like they're being drawn to something."
Belle's eyes narrowed slightly.
That was odd. Monsters didn't just gather without reason. Aetherion's presence had attracted some before, but this…?
Before she could dwell on it, a loud thud broke her thoughts.
Boris slammed a stack of papers onto the counter, causing a few nearby adventurers to jump.
"If you two are just gonna stand there, sign up or get out of the way."
Kai smirked, unfazed. "Relax, old man. We're just getting the details."
Boris scowled, but before he could start a lecture, Alina shot him a look.
Turning back to Belle, she grabbed one of the papers and slid it toward her. "Since you were recently promoted to D-Rank, you're eligible for this quest too."
Belle picked up the document, quickly scanning the contents.
A large-scale subjugation. Squads required. Dawn deployment.
Belle hesitated, mind flashing back to everything she had learned about mana and miasma.
If this wasn't miasma-related, but monsters were still behaving unnaturally… What could be causing it?
Kai, on the other hand, grinned, already interested. "Well, I was getting bored. Guess this'll make for a good warm-up."
Belle sighed. "We'll take the quest."
Alina nodded. "Get some rest. We deploy at dawn."
As they turned to leave, Belle stole one last glance at the adventurers preparing around them.
There was something about this mission that didn't sit right with her. She just couldn't shake off the unease feeling that she had.
End of Chapter 18